Tie plate clamp and rail guard



Sept- 22, 1953 J. R. SNYDER 2,652,982

TIE PLATE CLAMP AND RAIL GUARD Filed Oct. ll, 1950 INVENToR.

.facaa ,Pas/v Sno/051 Patented Sept.l 22, 1953 @FFME 'TIE PLATE CLAMP AND RAIL GUARD Jacob Rush Snyder, Cleveland, Ohio Application October 11, 1950, Serial No. 189,548

(Cl. 23S- 349) 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fastenings for rail'- way rails and, more particularly, to rail fastenings of the kind embodying a spring member for supplying a desired yielding characteristic. Such a spring member forms one element of a yieldable clamping means and is therefore sometimes designated as a clamp but for the purpose of this disclosure is hereinafter termed a clip or spring clip.

In addition to the spring clip, rail fastenings of this kind include a tie plate resting on a wood tie and supporting the base flange ofthe rail, and a spike driven into the tie through an opening of the tie plate. As heretofore devised and used, the spring clip has usually been of such size and shape and so located that it applied pressure to both the rail flange and the tie plate and was usually designed for the accomplishment of these purposes` without regard for ease of performance of required track maintenance operations, such as the driving, tightening and pulling of the spikes. This has been particularly true where the spike with which the clip cooperated was a line spike of the cut spike type.

The function of such a spring clip in holding the tie plate against the tie has proven its worth and is still considered to be of prime importance because it prevents pounding of the tie plate on the tie, during the passage of trains over the rail, and thus decreases objectionable cutting and fraying which has heretofore greatly shortened tie life. The function of the spring clip in holding the rail tightly against the tie plate is no longer considered desirable because it has resulted in an up and down movement of the tie known as tie pumping and which hasprevented the road bed from being maintained in a satisfactory condition. When the rail is permitted to have a limited rising and falling movement relative to the tie plate during the passage of trains, this objectionable condition of tie pumping is largely prevented.

As one of its objects, the present invention therefore provides an improved rail fastening employing a novel form of clip which can be very economically manufactured and, installed and the use of which successfully overcomes these problems. Y

Another objectof the invention is to provide an improved rail fastening of the character just .mentioned in which the clip is of such shape and is so located relative tothe-tie plate and spike that it will readily accomplish its intended purpose and yet will not prevent the use-of conventional track maintenance toolsfor driving, tightening -or extracting thespike.

A further object is to provide an improved rail fastening of the kind embodying a shouldered tie plate and a fastening spike and in which a novel spring clip held in place between the head of the spike and the tie plate shoulder is effective for yieldingly, but firmly, clamping the tie plate against the tie and also constitutes a rail guard which permits a desired limited free movementI of the rail relative to the tie plate.

Still another object is to provide an improved rail fastening of the character above referred to in which the clip is a, metal plate member, preferably a one-piece plate member, having a looped spring portion and arms constituting integral extensions of the looped spring portion and havin-g their ends engaged with the spike between the spike head and the tie plate shoulder.

As a further object this invention provides an improved rail fastening of the character inentioned and a novel clip therefor, in which the clip comprises a one-piece plate member having spring means at one end and rigid arm means at the other end and adapted to be held in place by a spike engaging the arm means, and in which the pressure of the spring means is utilized in clamping the ltie plate against the tie and the rigid arm means is effective as a rail guard and spaces an overhanging portion of the spike head above the rail flange so as to permit a controlled free vertical movement of the rail.

Yet another object is to provide an improved rail fastening and novel Vspring clip of the character just referred to above, in which the spike and the rigid arm means of the clip have cooperating non-circular portions for maintaining the clip in proper position and holding the same against turning.

An additional object is to provide a novel spring clip for use as a combined rail guard and tie plate clamping member comprising a, single piece of metal plate doubled upon itself such that the clip formed thereby has a loop shaped spring portion at one end and rigid arm means at its other end, and in which the opening means of the clip for receiving the spike is formed in the rigid arm means and the spring portion is devoid of any opening which would weaken the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view showing a rail fastening embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section taken on seotion line 2=2 ofA Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another partial vertical section taken on section line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the novel spring clip in detached relation and in its released condition.

In the embodiment of the improved rail fastening here illustrated, a conventional metal tie plate I is shown resting on a wood tie I I and supporting a conventional railway rail I2. The rail I2 extends transversely of the tie plate I0 and has a base ange I3 seated thereon. This improved rail fastening also includes a novel spring clip I4 which is further described hereinafter, and a spike I5 driven into the tie I I.

The tie plate Ii! is here shownas being of the type having one or more upstanding integral shoulders I8 extending thereacross and serving as a gauging means for the rail I2 and with which an edge of the base flange i3 cooperates, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The tie plate IIl also has openings I'I therein to accommodate the fastening spikes, in this instance four such openings, located in accordance with a conventional punching pattern for such a tie plate. As shown in the drawing the openings I1 are located so that they extend through the shoulder I5 such as to accommodate the spikes I5 when the latter are used as so-called line spikes. The openings I'I are preferably of quadrangular or square shape as here shown, although they can be of some other desired shape, for example, they can be round openings when screw spikes are employed.

The spike I5 here shown is a conventional cut spike having a quadrangular or square stern I5@ driven into the wood tie I I so as to extend through one of the openings I'I of the tie plate Iii. The spike I5 also has a head I5b on the upper end thereof which overhangs the base flange I9 of the rail. When the spike I5 has been driven into the tie II to the desired extent, the head I5b is spaced somewhat above the top of the shoulder I6 and above the top surface of the rail flange I3 for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter.

The clip I4 is made from a single piece or strip of plate or sheet metal which is doubled upon itself so as to provide the clip with a looped spring portion I8 formed by the intermediate portion of the strip and upper and lower arms I9 and 29 formed respectively by the end portions of the strip and constituting integral extensions of the ends of the looped spring portion. The lower arm 2D comprises two substantially flat integrally connected portions 29a and 29D which are disposed in relatively inclined relation to each other in the nature of the sides of a dihedral angle and give the lower arm the appearance of being bowed so that a convex curvature is provided on the under side of the clip. This lower arm is provided with a quadrangular or square opening 2l to accommodate the stem I5a of the spike I5 and which opening is located in the end portion of the lower arm so as to lie at a point adjacent to, but spaced from, the extreme end of this arm. The opening 2| is also located substantially midway between the side edges of the lower arm 2U and is substantially centered on the junction line of the relatively inclined flat arm portions 29a and h. The arm portions 20a and 2Gb constitute major and minor portions, respectively, of the length of the lower arm 29.

The upper arm I9 is preferably of a sinuously curved shape having its free end I9a turned arcuately downwardly and also having a depending convex portion |917 extending between and connecting the downturned end portion I9a and the spring loop I8. The upper arm I9 is also provided in the end portion |911I thereof with an opening 22 to accommodate the stem I5a of the spike I5. The opening 22 overlies the opening 2l of the lower arm and, as here shown, is preferably only a partial opening constituting the recess of a forked shape for the end portion [9a.

When the clip I4 is incorporated in the improved rail fastening, the end portions of the arms I9 and 20 are disposed between the tie plate shoulder I6 and the head I5b of the spike I5. In the released condition of the clip, the arms are spread apart as shown in Fig. 4 and as indicated by the broken line position of the arm I9 in Fig. 2. When the spike has been driven into the tie for the desired distance, the upper arm I9 is moved closer to the lower arm 2i] by a flexing of the spring loop I8, causing the downturned end portion ISa to seat against the lower arm 29, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and in which position this downturned end portion constitutes a stop for limiting the extent to which the spike can be driven into the tie I I.

The lower arm 29 seats on the tie plate shoulder IS adjacent the top edge thereof and in this seating engagement it is important to note that the laterally and downwardly inclined bottom surface 2li of the arm portion 29h bears against the downwardly and outwardly inclined portion I6@ of the tie plate shoulder such that the tendency for the clip, when under the load of the pressure applied thereto by the spike head, is to slide down the inclined face Id of the tie plate shoulder. Since the clip is held by the spike from such downward sliding movement on the inclined surface Iia of the tie plate shoulder, it reacts against the tie plate and thus applies a holding force thereto whichconstantly acts to prevent lateral shifting of the tie plate on the tie I I in response to the lateral outward thrust applied to the tie plate shoulder'by the rail ange and resulting from the spreading action exerted on the rails during the passage of trains thereoveix This holding force exerted on the tie plate shoulder by the inclined bottom surface portion 2t of the clip is important because when such lateral shifting of the tie plate is prevented, a destructive abrading action of the tie plate on the tie is likewise prevented.

When the rail fastening embodyingr the spring clip Ill is initially installed, the downturned end portion I9a of the upper arm I9 will usually be seated against the lower arm 2B upon the completion of the driving of the spike I5, but after the fastening has been in service for a very short period of time and has been subjected to the passage of one or more trains thereover, the tie plate I9' will settle against or into the surface of the tie for a small distance and this will permit an opening movement of the upper arm I9 to some extent relative to the lower arm 2G, thus providing a desired small clearance between the downturned end portion lila and the lower arm which will thereafter permit a desired relative flexing between the arms of the clip. When the clip I4 has been thus installed, the arms I9 and 2Q thereof will exert a spreading action between the spike head I5 and the tie plate shoulder I 6 which will act ycontinuously to yieldingly hold the tie plate against the tie and will also produce the above explained holding or wedging action of the inclined bottom surface portion 2t of the lower arm on the tie plate shoulder I6.

As shown in the drawing, the lower arm 29 is longer than the upper arm I9 and its end portion 26e lying inwardly of the opening 2l bears against the underside of the spike head I5b and overhangs the rail ange I3. When the downwardly bowed portion of the lower arm is seated on the tie plate shoulder, as shown in the drawings, this end portion 2llc of the lower arm will be spaced above the rail flange I3 by the desired small intervening space 25 and this spacing will permit the above explained limited free movement of the rail relative to the tie plate I during the passage of trains over the track. The offset relation between the point of engagement of the end portion 2SC with the underside of the spike head |519 and the point of bearing engagement of the lower arm on the shoulder I6, provides a leverage for the lower arm which enables the expansive spring action of the clip to apply the above-mentioned downward holding pressure and lateral wedging force to the tie plate.

As explained above, the openings 2l and 22 of the arms 2i) and I9 of the clip are quadrangular or square in shape and, hence, cooperate with the quadrangular or square stem I 5a of the spike I5 to hold the .clip in the position shown in the drawings in which it extends outwardly away from the rail at substantially right angles thereto. Because of the downwardly bowed shape of the arms of the clip and the manner in which the end portions of the arms are held between the tie plate shoulder and the head of the spike, it will be seen that the portion of the clip constituting the spring loop I8 will extend in an upwardly and outwardly diverging relation relative tothe tie plate I0. V

This upwardly and outwardly extending diverging relation for the clip I4 is desirable, primarily because a clearance space 26 of a generally triangular shape will be provided between the clip and tie plate which will readily accommodate the forked portion of a conventional claw bar 21, as shown in Fig. 2, whenever it is desirable to apply this tool to the spike I5 to withdraw the same from the tie. Since the apex of the clearance space 2S extends to the shoulder Iii and the design of the clip ld readily accommodates the claw bar 2 in this manner, it will be seen that the pulling of the spike can be accomplished without distorting or otherwise damaging the clip.

With respect to the sinuous shape of the upper arm I9, as described above, it will be observed that the downwardly concave shape of the bowed portion i919 causes this arm to extend laterally outwardly for a substantial distance below the spike head lh before turning upwardly and this is desirable because it affords ample clearance space around the spike head to permit a spike driving tool to act thereon without coming into damaging contact with the clip.

In installing rail fastenings embodying the novel clip Id, the spike I5 can be driven directly into a solid tie l I or the tie can be provided with a bored hole into which the spike is driven. If desired, the holding power of the spike in the wood tie can be greatly increased by the use of an adhesive material in such a bored spike hole. Any one of various synthetic resin materials, or mixtures of synthetic resin materials, can be used for this purpose which will provide metal-to-wood adhesive and wood-hardening characteristics. Materials suitable for this purpose, and the advantageous results derived therefrom, are more fully disclosed in co-pending applications, Serial No. 29,132, led May 25, 1948, Serial No. 47,653, iiled September 3g, 1948, and Serial No. 47,654, filed September 3, 1948.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing it will now be readily understood that this invention provides an improved rail fastening and novel spring clip, the use of which results in the tie plate being rmly held against the tie so as to prevent cutting or fraying such as heretofore resulted from pounding of the tie plate on the tie but permits a desired limited, relatively free movement of the rail with respect to the tie plate during the passage of trains so as to substantially reduce or eliminate tie pumping which has heretofore made difiicult the proper maintenance of a satisfactory road bed. Additionally, it Will be seen that the novel clip provided by this invention will wedgingly and effectively hold the tie plate against outward lateral shifting due to spreading of the rails and which has heretofore caused a destructive abrading action on the tie. It will also be seen that the novel clip provided by this invention accomplishes these important results without detracting in any way from the ease of application of track maintenance tools to the spike for driving, tightening or pulling the same. Likewise, it will be seen that the novel clip above described is of I a very simple construction which can be economically manufactured in production quantities and will remain serviceable and edicient for a long period of time.

Although the improved rail fastening and the novel spring clip used therein have been illustrated and described to a somewhat detailed vextent, it will he understood, of course, that the invention should not be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a rail fastening, a wood tie, a tie plate having a transverse rail-gauging shoulder and an opening therein substantially at the location of said shoulder, a spike having a stem driven into said tie through said opening and a head located above said shoulder, and a clip held in place by said spike and eective to yieldingly press said tie plate against said tie, said clip comprising a looped spring portion and a pair of upper and lower arms constituting integral Yextensions of the ends of said looped spring portion, said lower arm having an opening in the end portion thereof through which the stem of said spike extends and said upper arm having at its end a downwardly extending forked portion engaging the stem of said spike and also engageable with said lower arm for gauging the driven position of said spike.

2. In a rail fastening, a wood tie, a tie plate having a transverse rail-gauging shoulder and an opening therein substantially at the location of said shoulder, a spike having a stem driven into said tie through said opening and a head located above said shoulder, and a clip comprising a doubled metal plate dening a spring having upper and lower arms, the end portions of said arms being effective on and held between said shoulder and spike head, said lower arm having a downwardly convex curvature and the end portion thereof having an opening therein inwardly of'its marginal edges and through which the stem of said spike `extends for maintaining the clip and spike in assembled relation, said clip also having a loop portion connecting said arms at the other end of the clip and extending away from said rail in laterally and upwardly diverging rennen to said ne plate such that said 1ow'er Afarm; defines with said tie- Aplatea Yclearancespace having anapex reaching-'atleast to said shoulder and adapted toaccommodatethe claw portion of a 'conventional claw bar when applied in pulling relation to said spike. v, f i Y 3. In a rail fastening, awoodtie, a tie plate Vhaving a transverse rail-gaugingshoulder and 'an opening at a locationrtoextend throughsaid shoulder, a spike having a stem of a substantially square cross-sectional shapedriven into said tie through said openingand a head located above said shoulder, and a clip held in place by said spike and effective to yieldingly press said. tie plate against said tie, said shoulder having a longitudinal surface thereon sloping downwardly and outwardly awayfrom itstop edge, said .clip comprising a'looped spring portion extending up- `wardly and outwardly in ,diverging relation to said tie plate and a pair ofupper and lower .arms

- constituting integral extensions of the ends of said looped spring portion, the lower arm of said clip having an opening therein through which the stem of said spike extends, the last mentioned opening being of a substantially square shape and said stern being 4effective therein to hold said clip against turning about said spike, the lower arm of said. clip also having for a minor portion of its length an inclined surface on the underside thereof extending upwardly and inwardly toward the rail and seating on the sloping surface of said shoulder such that said clip reacts against said shoulder in a direction to resist outward lateral shifting of said tie plate, said lower arm also having a major portion of its length spaced from said tie plate outwardly of said shoulder and denning a crevice having an apex reaching at least to said shoulder and adapted to accommodate the claw portion of a conventional claw bar when applied in pulling relation to said spike.

4. In a rail fastening, a wood tie, a tie plate having a transverse rail-gauging shoulder and an opening therein substantially at the location of said shoulder, a spike having a stem of a substantially square cross-sectional shape driven into said tie through said opening and a head located above said shoulder, and a clip constituting a spring and held in place against said shoulder by said spike and effective to yieldingly press said tie plate against said tie, said clip comprising a metal plate having an intermediate portion dening a loop portion and end portions dening upper and lower arms, said lower arm having an end portion seating on said shoulder and provided with a substantially square opening through which said stem extends and in which said stem is effective for holding said clip against turning about said spike, said lower arm having a forked end portion disposed in straddling relation to said stern and the extreme ends of said forked end portion being downturned portions engageable with said lower arm at points located on opposite sides of the opening of the latter and directly above the top of said shoulder.

5. In a rail fastening, a wood tie, a tie plate having a transverse rail-gauging shoulder and an opening at a location to extend through said shoulder, a spike having a stem of a substantially square cross-sectional shape driven into said tie through said opening and a head located above said shoulder, and a clip held in place by said spike and eiective to yieldingly press said tie plate against said tie, said clip comprising a looped spring portion extending arcuately for approximately 180 and a pair of upper and lower arms constituting integral extensions of the ends .of lsaid looped spring portion,r one y of said arms 4,having an opening ofa substantially square shape extending therethrough adjacent to but inwardly of its extremeend and through which the stem of said spike extends and is effective for holding said clip against turning about the spike and the other arm being shorter than said one arm and having a forked end in straddling engagement with the stem of said spike.

6. In a rail fastening, a wood tie, a tie plate having a transverse rail-gauging shoulder and an opening at a location to extend through said shoulder, a spike having a stem driven into said tiethrough said opening and a head located above said shoulder,` and a clip held in place by said spike and effective to Vyieldingly press said tie plate against said tie, said clip comprising a looped spring portion and a pair of upper and lower arms extending in the same general direction for diierent Vdistances and constituting integral extensions of the ends of said looped spring portion, the lower of said arms being the longer and being convexly bowed downwardly and having an opening therethrough adjacent to but spaced from its extreme end through which the stem of said spike extends and the upper arm having a sinuously curved shape including a downturned forked end straddling the stem of said spike and adapted to seat against the lower arm.

'7. In a rail fastening, a wood tie, a tie plate having a transverse rail-gauging shoulder and an opening at a location to extend through said shoulder, a rail having a base flange seated on said tie plate, a spike having a stem of a substantially square cross-sectional shape driven into said tie through said opening and a head located above said shoulder, and a clip held in place by said spike and effective to yieldingly press said tie plate against said tie, said clip comprising a looped spring portion extending upwardly and outwardly in diverging relation to said tie plate and a pair of upper and lower arms extending in the same general direction for different distances and constituting integral extensions of the ends of said looped spring portion, the lower of said arms being the longer and being convexly bowed downwardly and having in its end portion an opening of a substantially square shape located adjacent to but spaced from the extreme end of said end portion and through which opening the stem of said spike extends and in which opening said stern is effective to prevent turning of said clip about said spike, said upper arm having a sinuously curved shape including a downturned forked end straddling the stem of said spike and adapted to seat against the lower arm on opposite sides of the opening of the latter, said shoulder having a longitudinal surface thereon sloping downwardly and outwardly away from its top edge and said end portion of said lower arm having an inclined surface on the underside thereof extending upwardly and inwardly over and in spaced relation to the base flange of said rail and seating on the sloping surface of said shoulder such that said clip reacts against said shoulder in a direction to resist outward lateral shifting of said tie plate.

8. A clip for use in a rail fastening in combination with a tie plate and a spike having a stem of a substantially square cross-sectional shape, comprising a metal plate having a looped spring portion extending arcuately for approximately and a pair of upper and lower arms extending in the same general direction for different 10 distances and constituting integral extensions of the lower arm on opposite sides of the opening of the ends of said looped spring portion, the lower the latter. of said arms being the longer and being concavely JACOB RUSH SNYDER. bowed downwardly and having an opening of a substantially square shape therethrough adjacent 5 References Cited m the me of uns patent to but spaced from its extreme end and adapted UNITED STATES PATENTS to receive the square stem of said spike and the Number Name Date upper arm having a sinuously curved shape n- 1,839,725 Armstrong Jan. 5, 1932 cluding a downturned forked end adapted to 2,291,743 Muller Aug. 4, 1942 straddle the stem of said spike and to seat against lo 2,357,629 Cantrell et al Sept. 5, 1944 

